District Leader: Assembly District 50

Democracy for NYC has endorsed Lincoln Restler in this race! 

Contact Nick at the Restler campaign to help out Wed. Sept. 12, or on election day, Thurs. Sept. 13, 2012: 646-594-454, nrizzo627-at-gmail.com (replace -at- w/@)

Lincoln Restler, incumbent Democratic District Leader in the 50th Assembly district (Williamsburg area) is being challenged by Chris Olechowski.

Click here to vote for DFNYC's endorsement in this race (until Thurs. July 19th, 2012).

Scroll down for candidate statements.

Links:

Colin Campbell's article on The Politicker

Khristina Narizhnaya's article at the Greenpoint Gazette

Colin Campbell's article on The Politicker, May 16th

Candidate statements: (in alphabetical order)

Statement from Chris Olechowski's campaign:

I am a community leader who has been involved in grassroots organizing and activism in Greenpoint and Williamsburg since the 1980’s.  Whether fighting to bring needed funding for programs to help  children and senior citizens or working to ensure local decision-makers recognize the importance of preserving livable neighborhoods, I have committed myself to protecting the community of working and immigrant families where I live and raised my two daughters.

In 1986, I joined New York City’s most local form of government, and have been an active member of Brooklyn Community Board #1 for over 20 years.  From 2000-2009, I was elected Member-at –Large.  In 2004-05, I chaired the Rezoning Task Force of CB1, which tackled the monumental issues associated with residential development, open space, parks, and waterfront access along the Greenpoint/Williamsburg Waterfront.  In 2009, I was elected Chair of CB1 and have been reelected annually.

My 25 years of leadership were not devoted to further a career in politics, but to strengthen my ability to be an effective advocate for my community.  My career has been building and directing a Home Health Aide non-profit which provides needed medical services to the senior citizens and other residents of Williamsburg and Greenpoint that need supportive care and provides jobs that feed hundreds of local families.

I am now running for State Committee Member, District Leader in the 50th Assembly District because I believe that our community can and should be galvanized to advocate for themselves through their vote.  I am dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of registering and voting in every election -- no matter how local -- for leaders who will support our schools, fight for affordable housing, protect our seniors, advocate for open space, and promote a greener and safer environment for our families and our children.

Statement from Lincoln Restler's Campaign:

Lincoln Restler was born and raised in Brooklyn, and is a proud product of the borough’s schools & community institutions.  Growing up in Brooklyn gave Lincoln a firsthand understanding of the importance of community empowerment, which has driven him to become a tireless advocate for his neighbors on issues of social justice, affordable housing, and good government.

Lincoln won a grassroots campaign in 2010 to be the State Committeeman of the 50th Assembly District, and has been an outspoken advocate for the residents of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Wallabout. As a strong progressive voice on development, school reform, and mass transit issues, Lincoln has been focused on engaging more neighborhood residents in community affairs.

In 2011, Lincoln took the lead in attracting a new supermarket to a food desert in Fort Greene and coordinated the hiring of residents from the local community. Lincoln has also helped spearhead efforts to realize new green spaces on Commercial Street and Java Street in Greenpoint and on Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill.  

Having emerged as a key leader in the Brooklyn Reform Movement, Lincoln is leading the effort to clean up Brooklyn politics and build a new progressive Brooklyn Democratic Party. He is actively pursuing reforms to the judicial selection process and is striving to democratize the old Brooklyn Democratic machine. Lincoln is a leader of New Kings Democrats, a progressive organization committed to involving more Brooklynites in local politics and reforming the local political establishment.

Professionally, Lincoln is the Managing Director of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, which is a citywide coalition of 200 workforce development organizations focused on connecting New Yorkers to training, education, and quality employment. Lincoln holds a bachelors degree in Africana Studies and Latin American Studies from Brown University and resides in Greenpoint.